Household refrigerator shelf

ABSTRACT

A household refrigerator shelf having a frame, a sheet element, and a retaining clip that is deformable for releasably maintaining the sheet element with the frame.

United States Patent [191 Cooke et' al.

[4 1 Oct.14, 1975 HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATOR SHELF Inventors: Ralph C. Cooke, Louisville;

Jefferson A. McIntyre, Jr., Jeffersontown, both of Ky.

Assignee: General Electric Company,

Louisville, Ky.

Filed: Oct. 11, 1974 Appl. No.: 513,921

US. Cl. 211/153; 108/27; 211/134; 52/502; 52/400; 52/627 Int. Cl. F25D 23/00 Field of Search 211/134, 135, 148, 153, 211/183; 52/627, 628, 502, 400; 108/27; 312/116, 140

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Friedemann 21 l/l53 Persson 52/502 Navert.... 211/153 Curtiss 211/153 Drake 62/89 Blanchard 52/502 Pattison., 211/153 X Primary ExaminerRoy D. Frazier Assistant ExaminerRobert W. Gibson, Jr.

ABSTRACT A household refrigerator shelf having a frame, a sheet element, and a retaining clip that is deformable for releasably maintaining the sheet element with the frame.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 14,1975 Sheetlof2 3,912,085

HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATOR SHELF BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Shelves of household refrigerators, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,429,709 Curtiss, comprise a relatively large number of parts that are interconnected to form a composite shelf. In the manufacture of refrigerator shelves, it was realized that waste of labor and material couldbe avoided if the shelves could be formed of more simple construction and be held together by frictional forces between cooperating elements as opposed to the general use of screws or bolts.

The shelf of this invention is of simple construction and solves the problems as set forth above.

SUMMARY OF TI-IE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, a household refrigerator shelf has a frame, a stop element, a sheet element, means for releasably connecting one end of the sheet element to an end of the frame and a retaining clip having legs that are deformable outwardly during positioning over and removing-the retaining clip from the frame for releasably maintaining the sheet element with the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan-view of the refrigerator shelf of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view taken along lines 11-11 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along lines III- -III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along lines IVIV of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along lines VV of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a shelf of a household refrigerator has a frame 12 which has first and second side portions 14, 16 and first and second end portions 18, 20. It is preferred that the frame be formed of metal in order to be easily cleaned and of a sturdy construction. It is also preferred that the first and second end portions 18, 20 be a rod that is attached at the ends to the side portions 14, 16 preferably by welding. A hereafter more fully described stop element 22 is associated with at least one, preferably both, of the frame side portions 14, 16 and extends inwardly therefrom.

A sheet element 24, for example a plate of glass, organic plastic or metallic material, is positioned between frame side portions 14, 16 and end portions 18, 20. The sheet element 24 has first and second end portions and is releasably connected to the first end portion 18 of the frame 12 by assembly 26. Flange elements 28, and- /or 28 (see FIGS. 1-3) of various construction extend inwardly from the first and second side portions 14, 16 of the frame 12 for contacting and supporting the sheet element 24.

Referring to FIG. 4, the releasable connecting assembly 26 is formed of first and second channel elements 30, 32 and a biasing clip 34.

The first channel element has first and second legs 36, 38 and a flange 40 extending outwardly from one of the legs 36. In the installed position, the first channel element 30 is positioned over the first end portion of the sheet element 24 at the first end portion of the frame 12. The first channel portion 30 is preferably formed of rubber or other like deformable material that has a high coefficient of friction with the sheet element Second channel element 32 is formed of metal or other rigid material and is connected to the first end portion 18 of the frame 12 for receiving the first end portion of the sheet element 24 and the first channel element 30 therein.

The first channel element 30 extends along substantially the entire width of the sheet element 24. The second channel element 32 extends along only a portion of the width of the sheet element 24 and is provided for supporting and orienting the sheet element 24. Both channel elements 30, 32 are of a generally U crosssectional configuration.

The biasing clip 34 has first and second legs 42, 44 and an infolded leg portion 46. The clip 34 is of a generally U cross-sectional configuration.

In the installed position of assembly 26, the biasing clip 34 is positioned over the second channel element 32 with the infolded leg portion 46 being in locking engagement with the flange 40 of the first channel element 30. The biasing clip 34 is of a configuration for urging legs 36, 38 of the first channel element 30 toward the sheet element 24 for increasing the frictional holding force of the assembly 26.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a portion of the second leg 44 of the biasing clip 34 adjacent each end thereof is removed in order that a flange element 28 can extend inwardly for supporting the sheet element 24 as set forth above. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the flange element 28 can be formed by cutting and bending the side portion of the frame 14.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, a retaining clip 48 is associated with the stop element 22 and the second end portion 20 of the frame 14 for releasably maintaining the sheet element 24 within the frame 12. The retaining clip 48 has a channel portion of a generally U crosssectional configuration. The channel portion 50 has first and second legs 52, 54 and a flange 56 extending outwardly from one of the legs for contact with the stop element 22. As can best be seen in FIG. 5, the retaining clip 48 is releasably positioned over the second end portion 20 of the frame 12 and the second end portion of the sheet element 24.

In order to provide a frictional holding force and a snapaction assembly that is quick and efficient, the first and second legs 52, 54 of the retaining clip 48 are of dimensions sufficient for causing said legs 52, 54 to deflect outwardly during positioning over and removing the retaining clip 48 from the second end portion 20 of the frame 12 and second end portion of the sheet element 24.

By the construction of the shelf of this assembly, the time to assemble and lock together the various components is relatively rapid which avoids the waste of labor.

In assembling the shelf of this invention, the first channel element 30 is installed over the first end portion of the sheet element 24, and the first channel element 30 is thereafter inserted in the second channel element 32 with the sheet element 24 supported by the flange elements 28. The biasing clip 34 is then slid over the channel elements 30, 32 with the infolded portion 46 urged into locking engagement with the flange 40 of the first channel element 30. The retaining clip 48 is then pivoted over the second end portion 20 of the frame 12, as shown in FlG. 5, as moving from the first position as shown by broken lines to the second position as shown by solid lines.

ln the second position of the retaining clip 48, the curvilinear flange 56 extends upwardly from the sheet element and provides a back stop and decorative extension of the shelf 10.

Other modifications and alterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing discussion, and it should be understood that this invention is not to be unduly limited thereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A household refrigerator shelf, comprising:

a frame having first and second side portions and first and second end portions;

a stop element extending inwardly from one of the frame side portions;

a sheet element having first and second end portions and being positioned between the frame side portions and end portions;

means for supporting the sheet element extending inwardly from the first and second frame side portions;

means for releasably connecting the first end portion of the sheet element to the first end portion of the frame; and

a retaining clip having a channel portion and first and second legs and a flange extending outwardly from one of said legs in contact with the stop element, said retaining clip being releasably positioned over the second end portion of the frame and second end portion of the sheet element for releasably maintaining said sheet element with the frame, said first and second legs of the retaining clip being of dimensions sufficient for causing said legs to deflect outwardly during positioning over and removing the retaining clip from the second end portion of the frame and second end portion of the sheet element.

2. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flange of the retaining clip extends upwardly from the sheet element.

3. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for supporting said sheet element comprises:

flanges extending inwardly from the first and second side portions of the frame for contacting and supporting the sheet element.

4. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the releasable connecting means comprises:

a first channel element having first and second legs, a flange extending outwardly from one of the legs, and being positioned over the respective first end portion of the sheet element; second channel element attached to the first end portion of the frame for receiving the first end portion of the sheet element and the first channel element therein; and a biasing clip having first and second legs and an infolded leg portion and being positioned over the second channel element with the infolded leg portion being in locking engagement with the flange of the first channel element, said biasing clip being of a configuration for urging the legs of the first channel element toward the sheet element.

5. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first channel element is formed of rubber. 

1. A household refrigeRator shelf, comprising: a frame having first and second side portions and first and second end portions; a stop element extending inwardly from one of the frame side portions; a sheet element having first and second end portions and being positioned between the frame side portions and end portions; means for supporting the sheet element extending inwardly from the first and second frame side portions; means for releasably connecting the first end portion of the sheet element to the first end portion of the frame; and a retaining clip having a channel portion and first and second legs and a flange extending outwardly from one of said legs in contact with the stop element, said retaining clip being releasably positioned over the second end portion of the frame and second end portion of the sheet element for releasably maintaining said sheet element with the frame, said first and second legs of the retaining clip being of dimensions sufficient for causing said legs to deflect outwardly during positioning over and removing the retaining clip from the second end portion of the frame and second end portion of the sheet element.
 2. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flange of the retaining clip extends upwardly from the sheet element.
 3. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for supporting said sheet element comprises: flanges extending inwardly from the first and second side portions of the frame for contacting and supporting the sheet element.
 4. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the releasable connecting means comprises: a first channel element having first and second legs, a flange extending outwardly from one of the legs, and being positioned over the respective first end portion of the sheet element; a second channel element attached to the first end portion of the frame for receiving the first end portion of the sheet element and the first channel element therein; and a biasing clip having first and second legs and an infolded leg portion and being positioned over the second channel element with the infolded leg portion being in locking engagement with the flange of the first channel element, said biasing clip being of a configuration for urging the legs of the first channel element toward the sheet element.
 5. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first channel element is formed of rubber. 